Pig-metal casting machine



Feb. 13, 1940. H. A. JACKSON PIG-METAL CASTING MACHINE 2 sheets-sheet 1 #0144460 6 J C/(SON, flt

Filed June 10, 1938 Feb. 13, 1940. H. A. JACKSON 2,190,406

PIG-METAL CASTING MACHINE Filed June 10, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 19206-715072 HOW/4E0 fl. JqcKso/v,

Patented Feb. 13, 1940 PATENT OFFICE PIG-METAL CASTING MACHINE Howard Jackson, Cleveland Heights, 01110 Application June 10, 1938, Serial No. 213,062

1 Claim.

This invention relates to pig-metal casting machines and, particularly, to a means for releasing the pigs from the molds at the discharge end thereof.

Pigs of iron and other metals are usually cast in the well-known conventional type of casting machine, which generally comprises a series of casting molds successively arranged on a pair of endless conveyor chains. 'As is well-known in the art, molten metal is poured into the casting moldsas the conveyor is continuously driven and, at the turning point of the conveyor, the pigs so formed are successively discharged from the molds.

The pigs oftentimes do not readily fall from the molds at the discharge end of the conveyor, as desired, and are again carried back to the pouring end of the machine. This is, of course, unsatisfactory and it is necessary to provide soine means for aiding the release of the pigs from the molds to avoid such a condition. Heretofore, it was frequently necessary to impart manual force, usually by means of a hammer or bar, to loosen the pigs sticking therein. Such an operation was expensive and, of course, resulted in increasing the cost of producing pigs.

It is an object of the present invention to insure discharge of the pigs from the molds at the discharge end of the casting machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved automatically operated means for aidingthe release of the pigs from the molds.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved, effective and efllcient means for releasing pigs from the molds of the casting machine, which is simple and inexpensive in its construction and maintenance.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the course of the following specification and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown, for the purpose of illustration, one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is aside elevation of the discharge end of the pig-metal casting machine showing the arrangement of the improved pig releasing means of my invention; and,

Figure 2 is an end view thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the pig casting machine with which my invention is incorporated comprises a pair of endless link chains 2 which extend around and between suitable sprocket wheels, of which there is indicated' in the drawings but one pair 3 located at the discharge end of the machine. Each of the chains consists of a series of connected links having rollers 2 arranged at each connection for supporting the chain on a suitable guideway be- 5 tween the sprockets. There is positioned between the chains and supported by the links of the conveyor, a series of successively arranged casting molds 4 which may be of any desired form, but which are preferably of the general shape shown in the drawings.

The sprocket-wheels 3 are rotatably supported upon a suitable frame and may be driven in any desired manner to cause the mold conveyor to continuously move beneath a stream of molten metal which is cast in the mold, as is well known in the art. By the time the pigs are carried to the discharge end of the conveyor, they have been sufliciently cooled and solidified and are adapted to be removed from the molds at the discharge end of the conveyor as it turns downwardly around the sprocket wheels positioned at that end.

According to the invention there is provided at the discharge end of the conveyor a pair of hammers or other suitable knocking members 5, rotatably arranged on the fixed shaft 6 which is suitably mounted in a frame or a support I at the end of the machine. There is also rotatably arranged on the shaft 6 a pair of upwardly extending levers 8. The levers 8 and hammers 5 are preferably connected together by means of p cing sleeves 9, and they are mained in position preferably by means of collars III which are securely fixed to the shafts 6. There is arranged, adjacent the upper portions of each of the levers 8, preferably coil springs l2, one end of which is suitably attached to the lever and the other end to a fixed support such as a portion of the frame I3. 0 There is arranged directly above the rollers of. the endless chain of the conveyor, at a suitable distance from the discharge end thereof, a pair of levers l4 pivotally mounted intermediate their ends and rotatably positioned preferably on a fixed shaft I5 carried by a suitable frame l6. One of the levers has an offset lower portion H, the purpose of which will be described later in the specification. The upper portions of the levers M are connected to the upper portions of the levers 8 positioned on the shafts 6, preferably by means of flexible wire cables or ropes l8. If desired, a suitable rope tackle l9 or other suitable means may be provided for holding the hammers 5 in an inoperable position.

It will be understood that,.as the conveyor moves along and as the rollers successively come 7 in contact with the lower cam-like portion of the levers l4, they are rotated in a counterclockwise direction. As these levers rotate, they load the springs l2 through the action of the connecting cables l8. After the roller has passed out of contact with the end of the levers H, the springs l2, of course being loaded, will quickly return to their unstretched and normal position, rotating the levers 8 together with the hammers in a clockwise direction, thereby quickly moving the hammers 5 against the solidifled pigs in the molds, which impart a forceful blow to the pigs and tend to loosen the same therein.

It will be seen that the molds are spaced at a distance less than the spacing of the traveling rollers 2 that is, there are three molds to each link. For this reason, it is necessaryv to offset the lower portion of one of the levers I l. as shown at H, so that it will co-act to loosen the pigs in the molds positioned between the rollers 2; that is, the hammers operate alternately, the straight lever adapted to operate the hammer to loosen the pigs of the molds opposite each of the rollers and the offset lever adapted to operate the other hammer to loosen the pigs in the molds positioned between the rollers. It will be understood that in any other spacing of the molds than that shown, the levers M will be arranged accordingly.

As a result of my invention, the pigs are automatically released from the molds of the casting machine at the discharge end of the conveyor. Such a device insures the release of the pigs from the molds and eliminates the danger of the pigs being carried back to the pouring end of the machine. The improved pig releasing means of my invention not only aids in releasing the pigs but also tends to remove-any stickers or slag that may have accumulated in the molds during the casting process.

While I have shown and described an embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose oi. illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

In a pig-metal casting machine, the combination with a continuous mold conveyor consisting of a series of pig molds disposed on two f sets of spaced apart rollers, of a laterally extending shaft fixedly mounted adjacent the pig discharging end of said conveyor, a pair of hammers movably arranged on said shaft which is adapted to impart a blow to the pigs in the molds to loosen the same, an outwardly extending lever associated with each oi said hammers, a pair of vertically disposed levers pivotally mounted intermediate their ends above said conveyor with turn actuate the hammers'alternately so that each of said hammers imparts a blow against the pigs in alternate molds to loosen the same therein.

HOWARD A. JACKSON. '40

one of said levers positioned opposite each set 

